{"id":433828,"date":"2023-11-04T13:00:25","date_gmt":"2023-11-04T17:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=433828"},"modified":"2023-11-04T13:00:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T17:00:25","slug":"injuries-headlines-when-right-for-ottawa-senators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/11\/04\/injuries-headlines-when-right-for-ottawa-senators\/","title":{"rendered":"Injuries, Headlines, When Will It Go Right for the Ottawa Senators?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Things are not going swimmingly in the nation\u2019s capital, no thanks to the injuries the Ottawa Senators<\/a> have sustained. Going into action Saturday, they\u2019re 4-5-0, last place in the competitive Atlantic Division, and the Senators are struggling. Of course, it feels pretty bad for the Senators fan base currently, but it could be worse. The players are doing whatever they can to stay in the hunt early. Over the past few seasons, they have been notoriously poor out of the gate.<\/p>\n

Despite the Injuries, It Really Isn\u2019t All Doom and Gloom for Ottawa Senators<\/span><\/h2>\n

First and foremost, everyone just needs to relax. Try deep breathing? Okay, it didn\u2019t work here either. Sens fans and players alike need that winning feeling. Look at defenceman Thomas Chabot<\/a>. He\u2019s been good for so long<\/a>, that we forgot how good we\u2019ve had it with him. Regardless of how high you put him, he\u2019s a top ten amongst Canadian NHL d-men. Therefore, he is a borderline Team Canada member, along with Jakob Chychrun<\/a>, if Gary Bettman ever gives us a best-on-best tourney. For Chabot, he\u2019s constantly among the NHL ice-time leaders. The argument could be made the results aren\u2019t always there, but he sure does make the players around him better. Prime examples of that are the other three members of the team\u2019s top four, Jake Sanderson<\/a>, Artem Zub<\/a>, and Chychrun. Chabot finds himself on the shelf still, for another approximately three to five week timespan.<\/p>\n

From Injury, Comes Opportunity<\/h3>\n

Senators fans forget it is actually uncanny how frequently the Senators find themselves in the headlines. And it\u2019s not small things either it\u2019s a 41-game suspension<\/a>, the GM being replaced<\/a>, or the owner expressing himself about the commish. Granted, it is difficult to relax, but right now the team\u2019s defence is banged up. Besides Chabot, both Zub and Erik Brannstrom<\/a> remained sidelined<\/a> for this weekend\u2019s game. They aren\u2019t expected to be out much longer, but both are sidelined today. Filling in has been a trio of AHL Senators including Jacob Bernard-Docker<\/a>, Nikolas Mantinpalo, and Tyler Kleven<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Silver Lining Is the Prospects Can Showcase Their Skills<\/h3>\n

Everyone is excited to watch Kleven and see what kind of physical impact he can have on a game, but what about Bernard-Docker? This is a great opportunity for the still, highly regarded prospect. However, his opportunities, you\u2019d think, must be wearing thin on the organization. After all, he is a first-rounder from 2018. Still, it appears as though he is doing a decent job. He\u2019s played over 16 minutes a night through five games. Previously, he was encouraged to be more offensive-minded. Now, given the bind the team finds themselves in, he\u2019s needed to be relied upon more defensively. It\u2019s a small sample size, but he has the highest dSZ% of his brief NHL career at 51.9%. Also, he has chipped in with an assist and has an amazing 17 blocked shots.<\/p>\n

Suggestions Anyone?<\/h3>\n

Or maybe it is time to shake things up, on the ice. It might be time to split up the top line. This team needs a spark, and Tim Stutzle<\/a> and Brady Tkachuk<\/a> need to drive that spark, with goals. Stutzle needs someone who can keep up with him. In contrast, Tkachuk can keep up with Stu, but he seems more concerned this season with being more responsible defensively, and he also, needs to be able to be physical whenever the opportunity presents itself. Stutzle needs another free-wheeling winger that can keep up with him, and finish those three-on-twos. What\u2019s more, the team already has that type of option. Vladimir Tarasenko<\/a> is the guy for the job. Either way, the point is they need a shake-up offensively. There is no way, with the talent up front, that this team cannot be a three-line scoring threat. Regardless of injuries.<\/p>\n

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Per D.J. Smith: Ridly Greig and Mark Kastelic will miss several games. #Sens<\/a> @FullPressNHL<\/a><\/p>\n

— Murray Pam (@Pammerhockey) November 3, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n